Community Weekend

On Saturday 22nd February and Sunday 23rd February 2025, there will be a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes of a working heritage railway.  

The Swanage Railway team will be opening the doors on a wide range of areas often not seen or accessible by visitors, making a different and interesting day out for all the family. 

Volunteering at the award-wining heritage railway is a great way of meeting new people and constructively assisting in community projects. 

The railway's team would love to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer on the Swanage Railway or find out more.

At each station there will be a welcome desk and a variety of activities to participate in (some are subject to advance booking). There will also be a green timetable running with discounted standard travel tickets for travellers who live in the County of Dorset.

Activities include:

Swanage station -

Guard and Travelling ticket Inspector experience ( pre-booking required maximum 2 people 1 person must be 18). Drive a diesel experience (pre-booking required 18+). There will be a steam locomotive in light steam that you will be able to have a footplate tour of. You will also be able to catch the Heritage Bus Tour to Norden or go on a one-hour circular trip back to Swanage (pre-booking required for the tour, limited availability).

Heritage Bus - 

Swanage Departures 0945   1045   1145   1345  1445

Heritage Bus Tour - 

Step on-board our new heritage bus tour exploring Swanage Railway by bus gaining panoramic views of the Jurassic coast and the sights and smells of steam through the Isle of Purbeck. The bus experience can be started from either Swanage or Norden station and will last an hour, although you are welcome to stay on board for longer if capacity allows. The trip starting from Swanage Station will stop at Swanage Engine Shed and turntable where you gain a grandstand view and our expert guide will give you the history and low down on what happens in this vital part of the railway preparing and disposing steam engines. You will then travel to Norden over a number of bridges that cross the railway and through the picturesque town of Corfe Castle. At Norden you will head into the works area of the railway to view behind the scenes of this operational part of the railway, again with our expert guide explaining how the area is used and answering any questions. The bus will then stop at Norden Park and Ride where you can start a new tour or catch our steam or diesel train service to our other stations and displays. The bus will then travel back to Swanage via Kingston and Langton Matravers to gain views of the Dorset Coast and the Railway running in the valley below.

Herston Halt -

Team Herston will be at the halt 10am to 3pm to update visitors on work undertaken over the past few years. It is also home to a heritage 1930s Southern Railway Scenery Van, which has been looked after at the halt since 1997.

Harmans Cross -

Signal box experience (pre-booking required maximum 4 people,  1 person must be 18+). Subject to availability, a 1960s telephone exchange is hoped to be open 11am to 3pm. Why not visit the recently created l950’s style Station Masters Office?

Corfe Castle -

Signal box experience (pre-booking required maximum 4 people, 1 person must be 18+). Subject to availability, a 1960s telephone exchange is hoped to be open 10am to 4pm. The down platform will have a Heritage coach and a selection of wagons and engineers vehicles on display, with volunteers happy to discuss the restoration of heritage vehicles and how they are used on the railway. The have a go 'hands on' signal box museum is hoped to be open for the public to try their hand at being a signaller.

Norden -

The Purbeck Mineral and Mining Museum will have a narrow gauge diesel train running 11am to 3pm and will have volunteers ready to give you a mini tour of the site starting at Norden station. You will also be able to catch the Heritage Bus Tour to Swanage or go on a one-hour circular trip back to Norden (pre-booking required for the tour, limited availability).

Heritage Bus - 

Norden Depatures      0930    1030    1130   1330   1430

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering should contact the Swanage Railway volunteer recruitment and retention officer Lisa Gravett on 01929 475212 or email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk. Details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.

There will also be a green timetable running with discounted standard travel train tickets for passengers who live in County of Dorset. Proof of residency will be required on day of travel.